[black-bonnie]

Been reading and looking at the Rocket 3 more lately. I'll never forget at a RAT rally lunch I sat next to the dealer employee who was given the show room Rocket 3 to ride in the rally. He said he didn't want to ride it home because his legs hurt due to the gas tank being so wide.

Yesterday on my way home from Dallas I stopped by a dealer to get a motorcycle DVD they borrowed. I started asking questions about the R3 and the owner said just to ride the one they have outside. So I did and my legs and right hip are still sore after 20 minutes of riding. That tank is not short inseam friendly.

For such a big bike, it really handles well at slow speeds and really pulls at the twist of a throttle.

Now my R3 fascination is over though. Viva the bonnie.

 

[Geoff]

I hear ya. I'm a little afraid to test ride an S3 tho...
I might wind up with 2 bikes
G

 

[RT]

Been looking over a R3 myself but don't think it's going to happen. Just don't know that I need that much bike.
Waiting to see what the new Tiger is like. Also looking a BMW R1200Rt's. Like I say just looking, wife says I can get a 2nd bike but not till our son is out of college.

Never thought about hip pain and that wind tank. My hips give me enough trouble w/o adding additional factors.

 

[schwartzkm]

The Triumph Demo truck was out here in the DFW area a little while ago and I test rode the rocket III three times (20 minutes a shot) and didn't have a problem with the gas tank. I am 5'6 so I am not considered tall but I might be a little younger than you and more flexible????

I Loved the ride, handling and torque of the rocket and now realize why those that purchase them love riding them so much. My problem is I use my bike as a daily commuter and the beast just doesn't seem practical for that type of job because the tires wear out so fast and they are so darned expensive. I know some R3 owners that are lucky to get 4.5k out of their back tire and at 250 a wack that would be 3 tires a year for me!!!!! My SM has 9.4k on its existing tire and there is still a good 2k+ worth of tread on it adn the tire is only 140k+- a few dollars.

Kevin...

 

[ChuckofTahoe]

With time, you would limber up and the wide tank is not a problem. THat is actually a common issue for wide tank bikes.

Go ahead and make the purchase.

:-D

But don't make a trade, you'll regret it.

 

[rwright]

I test rode the R3 on Triumph demo day also. It does handle extremely well even at slow speeds. Came away with two negatives though: I found I had to twist my toes inward to reach the short gear shift lever and brake pedal (due to the wide tank). I totally missed the gear shift once or twice . Also, I missed second gear a couple times while shifting and heard from another R3 owner that was a common occurence for him.

After the demo ride the Speedy felt sooo right.

 

[PA-guy]

I too have had some interest in an R3 lately but I see it as a bike better designed for longer rides. 90% of the miles I put on my 2 bikes are short rides like 125 a day. I'm sure the R3 would be a blast to ride even on these shorter rides but not necessarily more fun than my current 2 bikes. I plan a test ride this spring however just to feel the torque it produces. Knowing me I'll probably love it and then befaced with having to sell the HD to make room.................nah, the Sportster is just too cool.

 

[black-bonnie]

Yes, I'm old (53) and being flexible has never been my strong point. Most of my commuting is hwy. Still, eventually I arrive in a city. Often that city is filled with traffic. So maybe after hours of riding the R3 my legs would get used to the wide tank and funky gear pedal and brake pedal position.

But a 750 lb bike vs a 500 lb bike makes a difference on how you can whip it around. I like whipping around. I like just leaning to move the bike at times. With my low weight of 140, the R3 laughs at my lean. The bonnie dances with it.

And now I'm hearing about $250 tires only lasting less than 5k miles; I'm too cheap to have a bike like that.

Why do I need such power, size and weight, not to mention cost?

Bonnie, you're still the one but you can't blame me for looking.

Of course the dealer's son has to embarrass further by telling everyone within earshot in the store that he knows a petite 5' 2" woman who owns a R3 and has no problem riding it.

 

[joerockhead]

Of course the dealer's son has to embarrass further by telling everyone within earshot in the store that he knows a petite 5' 2" woman who owns a R3 and has no problem riding it.

If she didn't start out bowlegged I bet she is now! :-D
JR

 

[TBAbob]

Black-bonnie,

Huh?? Gotta think that you just had a personal reaction to the R3 riding position. I've been cruising the R3 forums for three years and I can't remember anything about someone's legs hurting from the wide tank. Seating positions on any bike can be very individual specific. I can't do more than 30 miles on my son's T-Bird Sport with it's drag bar/rear peg seating position but I can do 100s of miles on the Speed Triple with basically the same position. Actually, that should read "used to" instead of "can" since Dave took the S3 off-road at about 120 earlier this summer! Dave's still here but the S3 isn't! Sigh!

The America is still my hands down favorite bike but the R3 is a rush like nothing else and a hoot to ride. That alone is more than enough reason to own one.

Cogito ergo equito

Bob

 

[black-bonnie]

Now come on! Is it me and only that guy who rode the R3 in that rally the only ones who find putting your legs around a LARGE tank and then having to force your feet inwards so you can shift and hit the brake pedal, painful?

Then maybe I need to do yoga, ride a horse and take ballet lessons. But I won't be able to afford those things since the R3 tires would take all my cash.
:-D :-D

 

[black-bonnie]

Can't wait to test ride the new 07 Sprint.

With the improvements they made, it might sway me over. But that would be a long test ride for at least 3 hours for me to determine that it is that much better than the bonnie.

 

[Brooksie]

Test rode a Rocket III last summer and loved it. Took it down the same roads I take the Bonnie and Daytona down. Sweepers and tight stuff. The R3 did very well. Great power and fun to see the looks on peoples faces when they press their noses to the window. Nice touring bike for when I retire. New Sprint ST ABS in black in a knock out. The bars are changes, to much the same height as my Daytona with the Heli bars. Triumph may not flood the market with bikes, but they sure get it right when they make it. Will be a Bonnie guy forever, though the "other" bike next to it may change every now and then.

[ This message was edited by: Brooksie on 2006-12-15 19:19 ]

 

[black-bonnie]

Brooksie,

The black Sprint with ABS is exactly the bike I'd like to see. Maybe when I pay off the bonnie I'll get it too. It would be hard to depart with the bonnie that has been trouble free and so much fun.

Interesting that you took the R3 on some challenging roads. For me, it is too much bike and too expensive to upkeep. It is impressive in looks, handling and power though. The Britts did one very good engineering job.

 

[Hiltz]

I had the pleasure of riding my younger brothers S3 over Thanksgiving on the Peak to Peak highway up by Estes Park.

What a great bike. Hopefully an addition to my stable next to my beloved Scrambler. :-D

 

[BlitzPig]

I just wish Triumph would take the R3 mechanical package, scale it down to 1000cc, and put it in a standard motorcycle with no HD/Cruiser styling aspirations. Then for an option add a fairing and hard bags and call it... TROPHY.

Then I'd say good bye to my Bonnie.

 

[black-bonnie]

BlitzPig,

Won't the outcome then be a S3 or Sprint type of bike then?

 

[BlitzPig]

Not really.

Sprints and Speed Triples are sport bikes, even if Triumph and owners say not. And last time I looked neither of them have a driveshaft.

I want a more upright riding position than either of them as well.

To be honest I have not been on a new Sprint with the supposedly more upright position, but even so, it still lacks shaft drive and is styled too um... radically for my taste. I also don't like the new trend of having the pillion seat/rear fender/etc, 2 stories above the main saddle.

It's hard to be conservative in a world awash in sport bikes.

[ This message was edited by: BlitzPig on 2006-12-18 18:18 ]

 

[black-bonnie]

b
BlitzPig,

I also don't like the new trend of having the pillion seat/rear fender/etc, 2 stories above the main saddle.

Thanks for the laugh. I don't care for it much either. Another big plus for the bonnie. I've strapped down a lot of big things to that rear seat. The Sprint does have that downside of the high rear seat.

I'm always looking at bikes. Actually I feel guilty about the time. Better that though than getting drunk or taking drugs.

The bike you may find interesting, it is to me too, is the new BMW R1200R Roadster. I'm afraid to test ride a bike like that. I may do something stupid and buy it right there and then.